Lavender is a small, aromatic herb that belongs to the mint family. You'll have heard of the lavender plant before - it's known for its famous purple color and specific scent. It's used massively in skin care products, which means most people can recognize it from a mile off.
But does that mean it's also good for overall health, specifically for different skin conditions? Well, yes - we'll show you how your favorite scent might be your best friend when it comes to acne.
Essential oils can be very effective in the battle against acne, and lavender essential oil is definitely among them. In this article, we'll cover the benefits of using lavender oil for acne.
Read all about how to use this relaxing scent and how to prepare your own lavender home remedies.
Are Essential Oils Good For Acne?
To answer this question, we have to consider the causes of your acne problem. There are many reasons why essential oils are super-powerful natural remedies against acne, but it depends on the particular case of acne you're suffering from. For example, essential oils, like lavender and tea tree oil, can ease feelings of stress, anxiety, sleep deprivation, and fatigue and bring you back into balance. So, if your acne breakout is caused by environmental stressors, hormonal changes, or sleep deprivation, essential oils can make a huge difference.
But you should be careful - since most essential oils are cytotoxic, they can lead to intensive redness and make the skin look like it has a rash. This is because lavender oil bonds with the fat on the skin's surface. When it gets into a pore, it can stay there until washed off with an oil-based cleanser. This irritates the skin, stimulating it to produce histamine, which triggers an allergic reaction. It doesn't happen to everyone, and many people can enjoy the benefits of this oil without any side effects.
So, to conclude - essential oils, in general (and lavender essential oil specifically), can ease the symptoms of acne outbreaks and even make pimples go away. But because it's so strong, some people experience allergic reactions.
How Does Lavender Oil Act on the Skin?
Lavender oil works by altering sebum production. When the skin is dry, the oil glands start overproducing sebum to compensate for the lack of moisture. When this happens, excess sebum can clog pores and leads to the formation of acne.
Regularly using lavender oil will keep the skin moisturized, soft, and shiny - the sebaceous glands won't be triggered, and you won't get clogged pores.
But even if you don't have dry skin, stress can also make the oil glands go into overdrive, causing acne flare-ups. When the body is alarmed or you feel anxious, you sweat more, and the skin produces a lot more oil.
Many studies have confirmed that lavender oil can be a powerful relaxing tool because of its stress-reducing abilities. In fact, one study conducted on postpartum women stated that those "with anxiety demonstrated reduced anxiety levels using a rose/lavender oil blend for 15 minutes twice weekly during the course of 4 weeks." So, if you suffer from stress and anxiety, buy a lavender oil spray you can use on your pillow.
Another way in which lavender oil can affect the skin is by penetrating the pores, killing bacteria, and getting rid of dirt. Additionally, this essential oil benefits the skin because it has powerful antimicrobial and antioxidant characteristics and anti-inflammatory properties.
Benefits of Lavender Oil
There are many lavender oil benefits you can take advantage of by applying this essential oil topically.
Effective Against Eczema
Among other benefits, lavender oil is famous for its antifungal properties. When someone suffers from eczema, their skin becomes dehydrated, itchy, and scaly. Lavender essential oil can revoke those symptoms, reduce inflammation, and keep the condition under control.
Skin-Brightening Properties
Since lavender oil has the power to reduce painful inflammation, this gives it another benefit: it can even out skin tone, reduce discoloration and treat dark spots.
Reduces Wrinkles And Acne Scars
Free radicals are somewhat responsible for the formation of fine lines. But when it comes to wrinkles, lavender oil is full of antioxidants that will keep your skin young and soft.
Combine it with coconut oil for the best results against scars and signs of premature aging, such as wrinkles. You can use the mixture on a daily basis.
Wound-Healing Powers
A couple of studies have found that you can use lavender oil to repair damaged skin tissue. It's effective against burns, cuts, scrapes, and other skin injuries, helping to speed up the healing process and promote healthy skin.
Hair Growth
Studies show that you can use lavender oil to help with hair health, promoting hair growth and ensuring your hair grows thicker and quicker than usual. It also protects the hair from sun exposure, preventing hair damage caused by UV rays.
Insect Repellent
For us, lavender oil smells wonderful. But for insects, it smells awful. Isn't that amazing? Usually, insect repelling sprays smell unpleasant, chemical, and overpowering. But not lavender!
Just put a few drops of this essential oil in a spray bottle and spray yourself. Alternatively, you could leave it in a bowl close to you. And, to make things even better, lavender oil also helps relieve insect bites by killing off bacteria and reducing inflammation, meaning it will soothe the pain of the bite as well.
Side Effects and Precautions Of Using Lavender Oil
As we previously mentioned, lavender oil is really strong and can trigger mild allergic reactions in some people. If you intend to use lavender oil for skin, it's best to dilute the oil with water or combine it with a carrier oil you've patch-tested on your face, such as argan oil or coconut oil.
Lavender oil is also linked with testosterone, which indicates it might not be safe for boys who haven't reached puberty yet. To be completely safe, don't use this essential oil on children.
There's no reliable information about using the oil while pregnant or breastfeeding, so avoid using it if this applies to you, just to be on the safe side.
Because of its calming and relaxing effects on the nervous system, lavender oil is not recommended for use before surgery, as it might cause complications with anesthesia. Avoid using the oil two weeks prior and a few days after surgery.
How to Apply Lavender Oil on the Face
If you've used lavender oil before and know that it doesn't trigger allergic reactions, you're free to use it in a number of ways - from applying it topically to introducing it into your existing skin care products. To keep things simple, apply a few drops of the oil on a washed, clean face and gently massage it into your skin for a couple of minutes in a circular motion. After that, tap your face dry with a clean cloth.
If you have sensitive skin and still want to use lavender oil, try diluting it with water and repeat the same procedure.
Combine the oil with a carrier oil (such as coconut) for the best results against acne scars and wrinkles. Tamanu oil is a fantastic option to reduce inflammation and stimulate wound healing.
Face Masks With Lavender Oil
Lavender Oil, Baking Soda, and Honey
Combine half a teaspoon of lavender oil, one teaspoon of honey, and one tablespoon of baking soda. Make a smooth paste and apply it evenly on the face. Let it act on the face for 15 minutes before washing it off with room-temperature water.
The baking soda is great for acne-prone skin. It will make your pores smaller, reduce blemishes, and combat bacteria on the skin. When combined with lavender oil and honey, the potent ingredients in this face mask help soften and brighten the skin thanks to all their anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties.
Lavender Oil And Avocado Face Pack
You'll need to mix lavender oil with one ripe avocado.
Mash the avocado into a bowl and add a few drops of lavender oil. Apply the paste on your face and let it settle for twenty minutes. Wash it off with lukewarm water. For the best results, use it once a week before bed.
With regular use, you should notice changes after a month or two. We can even call it "the goodnight sleep mask" since the avocado helps to boost collagen and remove dark circles, and lavender oil reduces mental stress and anxiety.
Lavender Oil and Yogurt
This combo is perfect for soothing dry and irritated skin and stopping your glands from producing excess oil.
To make it, you'll need one tbsp of yogurt and 3-5 drops of lavender oil. Mix well to make sure everything is blended, and gently rub the paste all over your face. Wait 15-20 minutes, then rinse with warm water. You can use the mask daily, but it's best to apply it before bed or before showering.
The lavender oil will kill bacteria and clean the pores, while the yogurt will keep dry skin soft and moisturized.
Lavender Oil, Oatmeal, and Lemon Juice
Grind one cup of colloidal oatmeal into a fine powder. Add a few drops of lavender oil and a teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Mix well until you get a paste-like consistency. Apply it to your face evenly. Use your fingertips to massage the mask into the face so it absorbs better. Leave it on the skin until it drys off fully, then rinse it off with cold water. You can use the mask every second day.
This mask will clean your skin, reduce acne, and treat irritation. Lemon juice is also known for its skin-lightening properties, so if you're suffering from dark marks left over from acne or dark age spots, this is the perfect mask for you.
Follow up this treatment with an amazing moisturizer so you don't dry out the skin's moisture barrier.
Why Stop There?
There is a world of amazing acne-beating oils and natural remedies out there, all with different benefits. You can combine lavender oil with other ingredients, such as argan oil, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, rosehip oil, sweet almond oil, aloe vera juice, and witch hazel.
Although lavender oil is an amazing natural remedy to soothe and heal your skin, anyone suffering from acne will know they need an amazing skincare routine. Try Misumi's Clear Skin Duo Kit to reduce redness, soothe inflammation, kill acne-causing bacteria, clean the pores of dead skin cells and debris, and keep those breakouts at bay.
FAQs
Does lavender oil make you break out?
Although those with acne-prone skin may shudder at the thought of applying any oil to their face, they might be surprised to find out that applying certain oils will not make their skin more oily - in fact, it will have the opposite effect. Lavender oil, in particular, is non-comedogenic, which means it will not clog pores. This is great news because it means you can use lavender oil without fearing a breakout - happy days!
However, the same can't be said for other essential oils, so always check where an ingredient stands on the comedogenic scale before introducing it into your skincare routine.
Can I apply lavender oil directly on my face?
However, you may want to conduct a patch test first to be on the safe side. Using lavender oil for skin that's sensitive may cause redness and rashes, so it's always important to err on the side of caution.
Final Thoughts
Lavender oil is found in many different skin and hair products, and it's not hard to see why. Not only does the lavender plant smell delicious - this essential oil can reduce stress and anxiety, even skin tone, reduce wrinkles, and even help with acne breakouts. Not only that - it's been known to relieve the pain of bug bites, too!
There are many different lavender oils on the market, from sprays to creams and gels.
Although applying lavender oil topically can cause allergic reactions in those with sensitive skin, lavender oil is a great home remedy for many, leaving skin soft, smooth, and smelling great.
References
Essential oil of lavender in anxiety disorders: Ready for prime time?
Lavender and the Nervous System
The Effects of Lavender Essential Oil on Wound Healing
Effectiveness of plant-based repellents against different Anopheles species: a systematic review
Hair Growth-Promoting Effects of Lavender Oil in C57BL/6 Mice
